The National tribune., 1887-05-26
TRIP TO BILTON HEAD
Soldiers Who Did Not Fave Their
"Sea Legs" On.
The Naval Battle and Capture
OF the Forts.
MICH, AND SERGEANT, co. ID, U. s. ENGI-
NEERs, JACKSON, MICH.

On the 18th of October. 1861, our regiment,
together with the 18th N. y. lighianuersl, ,,
embarked at Annapolis, Nd, on the huge
ocean steamer Vanderbilt and went 10 Fortress
Monroe We remained anchored AT the mouth
OF Hampton Roads aboHt 10 days, and 10 tire
some days they were. To he smut mp in camp
for that period in the bloom of our enthusiasm
would have been considered a downright in
suit 10 rs who had hastgned on TO Washington
in defense OF the flag; but 10 he cooped mp on
the hurricane deck OF ship at anchor-it
was too much.
The 10Th was quartered ia the forward part
OF the boat, and ] am sorry TO say that al that
time q certain GOODNESS existed between Tire
two regiments; which was tut natH ral Tor the
Highlanders had been tried and found not
wanting at FIRST Bull Run, while we were only
GREEN RECRUITS FROM MICHIGAN.
How we enyed them; how We longed 10
prove 10 them tnat we only wanted an oppor-
tunity in order 10 make a record for ourselves.
AZ last the long-wi,hed-ior day arrived,
when the flagship Wabash sent her pennant 10
the masthead as a signal for departure The
Vanderbilt being the largest and fastest steamer
Of the fleet took in tow the tour-mastcd sailing
vessel Great Republic, which was loaded pr.n-
cipally with horses and forage for the expedi-
tiOn.
The first three days ont we had as lovely
sailing rs one could wish for. The sea bad the
appearance Of huge mirror, except an occas.
i0nal disturbance caused by school OF flying
fish or the pniling and plunging of lazy par-
p0lses. The fleet consisted OF about 80 vessels
Of all craft and kept well together untl the
afternoon Of the 3lsta when the sky began 10
darken, and occasional gusts Of wind gave
warning Of an approaching storm.
Up TO this time we had kept the Great Re-
public in tow by means Of two four inch haw-
sers, but the lurching Of the two monster ships
became SO great that for the safety of both ID
was deemed best TO cut the cables aud Jet the
sailing vessel care Cor herself A. s00a this
was accomplished the Vanderbilt changed her
course seaward, in order ID WAS said, - keep
clear Of rocks and saDdhars j had ad Oi the
"perils Of the deep bat that nights eNperi-
ence fixed the scenes In my memory better
than though had read Of an hundred storms.
Toward evening we were Ordered below, as
the waves we're beginning 20 sweep over the
decks, and 10 became necessary 20 close the
Z matches; but il was no cay matter 30 force a
4 lot OF frightened fellows like Us down Hndertw
or three decks, and then be locked in. The re-
suit was that quite a number of Us were allowed
I 10 stay on top. Myself and fsw others crawled
under one of the lifeboats that was lying bot
\ tom up. near the stern. on the hurricane deck.
Z az which place we also had most OF our camp
4 eqnipage stored. and stayed there until quite
I dark, when n sudden lurch of the ship loosened
J
SENT THEN FLYING AROUND u.
T This fearful racket together with the vivid
+ flashes Of lightning the thunder and rain,
made me feel as if our time had come.
j crawied from under the boat to try aud
make out what the trouble was, bli fouad t
impossible to remain on the open deck So
crept over to the seat along the side rau. where
i lashed myself to the seat securely with q
small rope got bold Of: my head toward tise
| stern OF the vessel, thus aGording an opp1r-
( tunity TO see what was going on ahead. ID was
now raining Ia torrents, but although with
out shelter of any description, I didn't mind
IL. My greatest fear was that Of falling asieep
during the night aud being washed overheard.
From my position i had fine view the whole
length Of the deck during each fash Ol light
ming. aud there were times when those flashes
were 30 rapid that the deck was brightly ilu-
minated for several minutes al time. The
appearance Ol the en- wa 10 me grand. yet ter
r5be. Millions OF diamonds seemed 10 spark lt
in the waves looking as IL the very water was
on fire. Directly ahead would c5ale ap im.
mCnse wave, which looked as ii iu an instant
il would bury us all ont Of sight; but il wonlln't
Instead Of going through 1t we passed over IL
and as we descended on the other side IL seemci
as though we We're plunginp straight down u
the bottom Of The sea, but al that very moment
we would meet another wave like the one ius
passed.
IL was this same thing over and over al
night, except for short time when the boa
got swung around into the trough Of the sea
causing a rocking motion. the N.aves
swEEPING THE HURRICANE DECK,
and at times the main yards dipped the water
Soon, however. the vessel Was got under cOntr0
again, and we renewed the process of climbing
the waves instead Of rolling over them.
Thus passed the night and when day az las
came what contrast with the morning before
Then it was smooth sailing our whole fleet il
sight az also the shores of North Carolina &
our right. Now We were alone not n sail ii
sight 40 land, nothing bat the sea and on
ship Oh which 70 feast our eyes. The stsrl
had abated and the long, rolling swells ha
taken the place Of the mountainous waves O
the night.
Up to this time had kept in pretty goo
, spirits, but the continued heaving Of the shi
, produced a feeling in me akin 10 that Wher
misery loves c0mpaniOnship.D and 1 500
! hove" 70. Was j SICK That don't expires
, how ] felt, for j do think that Of all the III
that man ls heir 70 sea-sickness takes the cake
Long aud miserable a. the night bad beer
our lot on this day was but little better. Wet
{ with no change Of clothing 10 put on, aud u
! place TO warm or dry ourselves, except "a orca
sionally one could edge his way up 10 III
smOkestaek and sit down near ID, for we cCn
not stand up with safety; hungry, yet W
spurned the very taste Of food when offered /
us. j recollect that we had beans for dimes
aud after tie ration had been dealt out a yer
] audible sound, or series Of sounds, lOated owe
the deck. Ny first impression was that ID
boys were saying grace, but on being ltt
more attentive / discovered that what the
were aging was,
WHO WANTS by EEANsl"
7 This was the Ist Of November, my I9t
birthday. 0ur feet sua red 10 some exter
during this great storm. The Governor. a
4 ordinary river steamboat WAS lost; the Z.
Nail steamer Atlantic lad both wheclhousi
/, and one of her paddles torn away but su
! ceedcd in getting through without other seriol
4 loss.
/ A few days after the storm we sighted n
! hull Of one Oi our transports. She was a pit
/, iu4-lODlng object in comparison with most
4 the other vessels. Her starb0ard bow had bee
! stove in and was now covered with heavy ca
vas: the masts had been cut away, artiilei
/ and other heavy freight thrown overheard, "a
only the sni0kestack appeared above the dec
= Our old Vanderbilt didnt seem any the w0r
!. iOr the rough usage
\ On the evening Of the Gth OF November v
came % anchor just outside the bar IN Po
Royal entrance, of Hilton Head S G. Sc
]. cral vessels Of the heet were already then
anchor, but not al and much anxiety was "a
A Tor udinRs Uf those not yet arrived. We, esp
a clallg, were eager 10 learn what had become
! our coas0Ft the Great Republic. as we hi
q neither seen nor heard Of her since cutting h
loose on the 3lst; but 10 our JOY, three or io
4 days after we arrived she hove in sight OF q
N entrance, under full sail. This was the fl